Tuesday, February 17, 2015

CD Review: English Supergroup Mike & The Mechanics Revists The "Living Years" With New Deluxe Edition

One of the most proficient side projects in rock music history was the formation of Mike & The Mechanics. The band featured Genesis' guitarist Mike Rutherford, singer Paul Carrack (Ace, Squeeze) and singer Paul Young (Marillion) alongside keyboardist Adrian Lee and drummer Peter Van Hooke. The band released six albums before disbanding after fourteen years together. Their most successful album was their sophomore release, 1988's "Living Years." It spawned five singles, including the chart topper "The Living Years." To honor the band's 30th anniversary, Rhino is releasing a 2-disc "deluxe edition" of that album to co-inside with the band's first U.S. tour in twenty-five years.

The new 2CD set was released on February 10th and features the original album, which contains the hits "The Living Years," "Nobody's Perfect" and "Seeing Is Believing." Fans will be salivating for the second disc which contains ten live songs from 1988 and a newly recorded version of "The Living Years." The song features the current touring version of Mike & The Mechanics with Andrew Roachford on vocals along with the South African Isango Choir. The song's meaning is still strong, Roachford's vocals fit the song perfectly and the chorus on this new version is even more powerful with the adult choir. The fun begins with the live songs, including "Silent Running" and "Par Avion" from Mike & The Mechanics' debut self-titled album. The band jams on a six-minute version of "A Call To Arms," before finishing the second disc with a blazing version of "Hanging By A Thread" led by Mike Rutherford's guitar solo.

Mike & The Mechanics will be hitting the road in support of the the band's 30th anniversary, including a shows this summer in Atlantic City, Boston and Hartford. For a complete list of tour dates and to find out more about this outstanding new "deluxe edition" of the "Living Years" album, please visit mikeandthemechanics.com.